Shock-absorbing mechanism for automobiles



June 3, 1930. J. F. ocoNNoR SHOCK ABSORBING MEGHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 5, 1927 I ,Ja/'1210?f @mar Patented .lune 3, i193() i UNiriED yffii;"r1-*2.5,

PATENT "OFFICE Jenn F. o eoin\roi' ,'orv CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, As'sreitoiafro W. r1. Mrivnn, rive., or GHI- cneo, inn-rivers, A conronnrron ,or ynnnavmnn p SHOCK-ABSOR'BING MECIANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES appiicanon aies March 5, i927. sensi No. 172;940.

Thisinvention relates to shock absorbing mechanisms for automobiles.

An object of the invention .is toprovide a shock rabsorbing mechanism Yto be used in connection with motor vehicles, especially of the bus type 4and adapted to be associated therewith in such manner as to beoperablehy the relative movement between the usual axle and the chassis of the vehicle, and aid the usual springs which support the axle in ab* sorbing shocks Atransm-itted thereto lthrough i inequalities inthe roadway. f

n rangement.

Another `ob'ect .of the invention is to pro vide ,a yI nechanism of this character which affords resistance to .therelative vmovement ,be tween the aXle'and chassis Vof the vehicle, and wherein means are securedto the chassis which include a plurality of fluid containing cylinders utilized inconju-nction with a plurality `L of pistons, together with an actuating element connected with the axle for actuating the-pis' tons whereby fluid in one of the cylinders is forced through a restricted opening into the provide acompound piston arrangement for forcing .the ,fluid from one' cylinder to the other,- wherein ,the operatifveparts of the piston are relatively movable during the operative stroke so that the pressure initiallybuilt' up upon' reaching an undesirable amount is yieldably relieved'by relative movement between tho parts composing the piston Yar- Gther and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims 4hereinafter following. Y In the drawingsrforming part of thisspeciication,Figure l is a side elevational `view of aportion of thec'hassisof an automobile, the usual spring assembly connected to an axle, and showing the `invention applied jin operative-position in connection therewith. Figure 2i-s a fragmentary `plan view ofthe invention as shown in Figure l. Figure 3y lean-enlarsd.. vertical sectional view @tithe www tion taken through the housing thereof sub.-

stantially on the .line 3 3 of Figure 2, and showing the ,interior construction thereof. And Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section al view `taken substantially on the lline 'of Figure 3.

. As shown .in the drawings7 1,0 represents a fragment .of the Vside frame forming a part ofthe ehassisof an automobile; 1l represents aspring assembly attached to the frame meinber in the usual yman-ner; yand 12 denotes an aigle ,member carried by the spring assembly 1l. i f

Intcarrying out the invention there .is pro-v vided a housing having flanges 13-13 thereon by which `the housing is secured fto .the

frameinember l0. The Ihousing is formed to provide two cylinders le and 15 adapted to contain liquid, the level of which is indicated at 150, said cylinders communicating by ,means .of ports 16,-16 adjiistably controlled by means .of a ,needle valve 17 which is adjustably mounted in the Vportions ofthe .housing hereinafter more particularly referred to. The ,upper portions ,of ,the cylinders are provided with arcuate extensions 18--l8,

Said extensions beingl provided with 4a pair of Yarcuate slots 19-19 at each side ofthe housing for the reception of portions of the actuating mechanism,hereinafter referred to.

Mounted `inthe cylinders. are. compound .pistons or "pluiigers 20f-20, Awhich v,are exactly alike in construction, and' yconsequently :only one ``of the same will be described in detail. Each of the pistons 2() comprises a relatively heavy kstein 21, and afdisc-shapedportion 22. Mounted `on the stem is a sleeve 1member 23, said sleeve being secured to the lower end of the `stem 2l by a lieyQG, the sleeve and the 'lower end of `the stem forming the effective diametorfof the piston head .in displacing the fluid aipon .downward movement of the .stem 21. kSlidably mounted uponthe stem l2 1, between the sleeve orrin g 23and thodisk 22,- is a flanged member -24'iliaving a boss thereon which forms alstop to limit approach of the disk 22 andthe flanged member '24. Interposed ,between gthe discy 22, .and the fiange memberQfl is alheavycoiled spring r25, Which is :placed-under consdfrable initial compres:

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sion and bears upon the under surface of the disk 22 and the flange of the member 24. Mounted in each cylinder is a second spring 2T, the bottom end of which bears upon the bottom wall of the cylinder while the upper end bears upon the under-surface of the flange ofthe member 24, the spring 27 being normally held under some initial pressure which aids in releasing the device as hereinafter referred to.

The actuating mechanism of the device includes the lever member 23, said lever being pivotally mounted in the housing by means of a. pivot pin 29, said lever being provid ed with spaced actuating portions 30 and 31, each of which is provided with an arcuate slot 32. The central pivot pin 29 extends through the extension walls 18-18 as best shown in Fgure 2, being inserted from the outer side of the housing through an opening in the lever 28 between the slots 324-32. The pin 29 is held in operative position by means of the upper portion of the needle valve 17 which extends through the outer end of the pin 29. The pistons 20-20 are operated through the medium of U-shaped transmitting members 33-33, each of which has its legs disposed at opposite sides of one of the portions 30 and 31, said transmitting members being maintained in operative position by pins 34 and 35 each extending through the adjacent pair of slots 19-19 of the housing, through circular apertures in the adjacent legs of the transmitting member 33, and through one of the slots 32-32 in the actuating portions 30 and 31 of the lever 28. The outer free end of the lever 28 is pivotally connected to a link 36. The link is pivotally connected to a bracket 37 secured tothe axle 12.

In operation, assuming that the vehicle strikes an obstruction in the road so as to cause movement of the axle member 12 toward the chassis 10, the link 36 will be forced iu an upward direction, swinging the lever i' 28 in a counter-clockwise direction about ted by the slots 19u-19, bringing about downward movement of tue adjacent transmitting member 33. The movement of the transmitting member 33 is communicatedto the disk stein 21 an d sleeve 23, the member 24 being held in balanced position by the springs 25 and 27, and the lower end of the stein 21 and ring or sleeve 23 displace the fluid in the cylinder and cause it to flow through the ports and to back up against the flange of the member 24, upward movement of the latter being resisted by the spring 25 until such time as the pressure built up during the operative stroke is relieved by yieldingv relative movement of the member 24 upwardly along the stem 21 against the pressure exerted by the spring e5 25. The size of the ducts 16-16 may be varied by adjustment of the needle valve 17. Assuming separation of the axle 12 with reference to the chassis member 10, the link 36 will be actuated in a `downward direction bringing about clockwise movement of the lever 28 about the pivot 29. This will result in depression of the piston in the right-hand cylinder as viewed in the various figures, bringing about action similar to that before described in detail. Upward movement of either ofthe pistons is limited by the transmitting member 33 associated therewith which forms a stop due to either the pin 34 or 35 coming into contact with the walls of the slots 32-32 of the lever.

By above described arrangement, it will be appreciated that no stalling boxes are necessary, and further in the operation of the device a combined resilient and fluid resistance is offered to either separation or approach of the aXle member 12 and the chassis member 10, and during the operation of the device one of the cylinders acts as a reservoir to accommodate the fluid displaced from the cylinder which is operating and there is no necessity for the provision of an intricate system of valves; further, the compound piston arrangement is such as to provide a yieldable combined resilient and fluid resistance to compensate for the differences in the severity of the shocks which are absorbed avoiding injury to the device.

lVhile I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same ismerely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with relatively movable members of a vehicle; of a plurality of cylinders. connected to one of said members and adapted to contain liquid, said cylinders communicating by means of a port; of a plurality of pistons, one of which is disposed in each of said cylinders, each of said pistons comprising a compound construction having a plurality of fluid displacing surfaces, one of which is mounted to yield under predetermined pressure; and actuating means connected with the other of said members of said vehicle and adapted to alternately operate said pistons dependent upon the direction of movement of said actuating means.

'2. In a' device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of cylinders adapted to contain liquid, said cylinders being in communication by means of a port; a piston for each of said cylinders each including aA plurality of fluid displacing surfaces,'one of which is yieldable upon encountering predetermined resistance, and means for alternately actuating said pistons wherepiston including elem thc actuating piston i other cylinder.

y fred at opposite sides of the pivl n et said lever; transnitting e of which co-operates With each l L is and elements extending i "he in said lever, being rotatably con ected with bers, and amending' through theslots in the efensions on said housing; and means connecting the tree end of said lever with said axle member.

e'. ln a device of the character described, the combinati n ivithfthe frame member of a vehicle and an axle member el: said vehicle; of' a housin j including av plurality of cylinders secured tor said frame member, said housing' being provided with extensions having spaced slots therein, said cylinders containingliquid and communicating by means oit a port; means liL r adjusting the size oi said port; a piston in each et' said cylinders, each c providing a plurality ol' relatively movable fluid displacing` surfaces, one ci which is yieldable upon encountering predetermined pressure; a lever pivotally connected to said housing adjacent one end and provided with spaced slots arranged at opposite sides of the pivotal conneet-ion ci said lever; transmitting members, one oi which co-operatcs with cach oit said pistons; and elements extending through the slots in said lever, being rotatably connected with said transmitting members, and extending through the slots in the extensions on said housing; and means connecting the ifree end oit said lever with said axle member.

5. In a shock absorbing means for vehicles, internosed between the vehicle frame and one of the axle members of said vehicle, the combination With a pair of cylinders fixed to said frame, said cylinders being in communication to permit flow of iluid from one to the other; of a piston Within each cylinder, each of said pistons being provided with a member presenting a fluid displacingr surface, said member being movable to a limited eitent tovvard said piston; means for yieldingly opposing relative movement of said piston and member toward each other; means actuated upon relative movement of said axle and frame for independently actuating said pistons in the same direction and through the said transmitting memfie ding means actuate said members provided with .the fluid-displacing surtaces to force the fluid from one cylinder to the other, one of said pistons being actuated upon relative-approach of the axle and frame, and the other piston bei-ng actuated upon relative separation of saidaxle and frame.

6. ln a device of the character described, the combination with relatively movable members oi a vehicle; of means connected to one of said' vehicle members including a Aplurality oi' 'fl f. cylinders, each of Whichis provided With a vpiston member; means for retarding movement of said piston membersin one direction including fluid means; means for limiting movement of each of said pistons in the opposite direction; an ractuating element connecten to the other vehicle member and arranged to operate in said. lirst named directioneither of said piston inembers, depending upon the direction of movement of said actuating member, While the other piston member is held stationary by said limiting means; and a port establishing communication between said cylinders.

7. n `a device 01' the character described, the combination With relatively movable members of a vehicle; of a plurality of Huid cylinders secured to one of said members, said cylinders having a communicating port; a plunger co--operating With-each cylinder; pistons in said cylinders movable With respect to the plungers; spring means opposing movement of the pistons toward said plungers; actuating means connected to the other of said vehicle members adapted to actuate one or the other of' said plnngers in one direction, depending upon the direction of movement ol said actuating means and through the interposed spring actuatingthe corresponding` piston, whereby the fluid in one ol:l the cylinders is transferred through said port to the other ot said cylinders to actuate the piston in the last named cylinder in a direction reverse to .same stationary While the other plunger is actuated. I

8. In a device of the character described, including a cylinder having fluid therein and provided Wtih a port through which said iluid is adapted to be driven; of a piston for said cylinder, comprising a plurality of liquid-tightHuid-displacing members, one of which is movable relatively to the other to yield under predetermined pressure in said cylinder; yielding means opposing relative movement of said displacingmembers; and actuating means for operating said piston, actuating one of said members directly and the other through the yielding means for driving said fluid through said port.

9. ln a device of the character described,

the combination with a cylinder adapted to contain a fluid; of a compound piston including elements providing a plurality ofcooperating liquid-tight fluid-displacing surfaces; means for actuating.)r said compound piston in one direction to force the fluid out of the cylinder; means for connecting said elements for relative movement; yielding means opposing relative movement of said elements in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the piston, whereby one of Said surfaces will yield with respect to the other upon encountering a predetermined resistance in said cylinder.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto described my name this 2nd day of March, 1927.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

